This Food and Wine Friday post takes a look at why fragolino wine became illegal, and looks at a fragolino drink which is sold, supposedly legally, in Italian supermarkets. Grapes from America An Italian Fragolino Drink

The winemaking process involves a brief maceration period, during which the grape skins interact with the juice, imparting the wine with its characteristic red hue. The result is a wine that captures the essence of the Isabella grape, showcasing a delightful fusion of flavors reminiscent of strawberries, creating a sensory experience that is both charming and memorable. The Fragolino sparkling wine goes well with sweet desserts or simply solo. At what drinking temperature should one enjoy Fragolino? Another factor contributing to the ban in Italy was the discovery of elevated methanol levels during grape fermentation. This raised serious concerns among experts, as excessive methanol consumption can pose significant health risks, including toxicity. Methanol poisoning can result in a range of adverse effects, from nausea and headaches to more severe outcomes such as blindness or even death, particularly when consumed in large doses. Fragolino виробляють різні компанії. Воно всі види цих вин в обов'язковому порядку мають полуничний смак. Серед найпоширеніших варто зазначити: Fragolino should be drunk young and will keep for about 1 year if stored cool, dark and temperature-resistant. An open bottle, on the other hand, cannot be stored for long. Simply drink and enjoy. Buy Fragolino cheap online

Fragolino виготовляється з винограду сорту Fragola. Відзначимо, що цей сорт не є Vitis vinifera (виноград, який зазвичай використовується для виготовлення вин). Швидше за нього можна віднести до категорії Vitis labrusca (Ізабелла). Fragolino з холодильника і залиште при кімнатній температурі на п'ятнадцять хвилин, перш ніж подавати перший келих. Це має достатньо нагріти його, але не дати йому занадто нагрітися. Якщо після першого раунду пляшка не спустошується, помістіть її у відро з льодом або знову в холодильник.

This drink is made from white grapes from Piedmont, based on naturally fermented grape must, Moscato wine, sugar and strawberry juice. It has intense notes of strawberry and forest fruit. The sip is aromatic and balanced, delicately sweet, suitable for aperitifs. Today, authentic Fragolino made from Isabella grapes is nearly impossible to find due to the restrictive regulations. Instead, in the markets, you’ll find approximations labeled as Fragolino that are wine-based drinks with unmistakable fruity aromaticity that reminds of fragrant wild strawberries. Thanks to its moderate alcohol content and pleasant sweetness, it is perfect at any time of the day and is a synonym for party and joy. The taste is sweet, fresh and lively, with strong hints of wild strawberries. These were the reasons that in the 1930s, some European countries banned the cultivation, or, in Italy’s case, the sale and distribution of wine made from Vitis labrusca. In France, for example, all new plantings of Isabella grapes were banned in 1935, perhaps out of fear that phylloxera might return, but mainly because the sweet strawberry like taste undermined the quality of French wines. Later, in 1979, the European Commission adopted the same rule, which managed to largely ban the production of European wines with American grapes. Vitis labrusca, були оголошені незаконними, оскільки експерти виявили, що ферментація винограду призводить до надмірного рівня метанолу, який може бути отруйним у великих дозах.

From what I’ve understood, substandard wine production methods during the first half of the twentieth century led to worries about the quality of wines being produced in Italy, and seeing as the fragolino grape was often used in the production of poor quality wine, legislation in Italy was introduced to ban wine production using this particular grape. Even today, the poor, misunderstood fragolino grape cannot be used in the production of wine. It can, however, be used to produce distilled drinks, so a fragolino grappa would be OK. Seeing as grappa is not wine, I guess Italy’s esteemed legislators must have thought that this exception was acceptable. Fragolino Wine Not Made in Italy

Fragolino’s journey, from the rolling hills of North America to the European ban, is absolutely a fascinating chapter in the history of winemaking. Today, it is almost impossible to find the real fragolino because its commerce was banned by the EU and the Italian government. Many stories have been told about the fragolino ban. The more official one is that it was banned because it is difficult to control methanol levels during wine production and methanol can be poisonous. Fragolino is a red sparkling wine, whose taste and smell is characteristic of strawberries. The cult pearl wine from the Isabella grape variety can be sold as a cuvée with wine or juice. The easily accessible and sweet wine combines a fresh body with a slightly sparkling acidity. Which dishes goes well with Fragolino? I kept my eye out for it for years after that, and discovered, as anticipation became disappointment, that there are a few different wines that call themselves Fragolino. There’s a sweet, syrupy Fragolino liqueur that is easy to find but is nowhere close to what I had tasted. There’s a sparkling, sweet, chemically flavored Fragolino that probably works fine as a dessert wine, or maybe an aperitivo, but again: not even close to what I was looking for.The Italian government says that the grape used to make Fragolino, the Uva Americana (also known as the Isabella grape), is banned because it’s difficult to control methanol levels during wine production. Given that methanol can make you go blind, that sounds like a pretty good reason to me. But some people suggest this is not the real reason behind the ban. Fragolino, виготовлених з винограду сорту Ізабелла. Натомість вам запропонують апроксимації, позначені як Fragolino, що містять полуничний сік або інші види полуничного ароматизатора. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

For a taste of today’s iterations of Fragolino, which are delightful wine-based drinks, consider these recommended options: A few winemakers say that the methanol excuse is urban legend. They speculate that since the grape is an American grape and not authentically Italian, the Italian authorities don’t want it contaminating their precious, authentically Italian soil. That seems to me like an unlikely reason for not only Italy, but the whole EU, to ban the grape – but it’s not that far off another explanation. What the Scientists Say about Fragolino But today, true Fragolino can be a bit difficult to find. It is actually illegal to sell this wine in the EU.The Fragolino sparkling wine is the epitome of strawberry taste in wine. Red, sparkling, pleasant, slightly acidic and above all fruity, Fragolino has achieved true cult status among connoisseurs. On sunny days, the fresh and juicy Fragolino is suitable for endless enjoyment, since the quite palatable body with low alcohol content does not rise so easily in the head - the illustrious pleasure with the fruity and sweet berry taste profiles itself much more. It would truly be an outrage if Fragolino red wine were banned, which would have happened. But thanks to innovative and shrewd winemakers, the sweet and tingling Fragolino remains with us. All the better for a party mood and a relaxed atmosphere. Fragolino belongs without question on the table when the sweet and casual life calls. Since pure Fragolino red wine had a very intoxicating effect and was therefore compared with absinthe, and the methanol content was also above the EU law permissible value, the sale of 100% pure sweet drinking pleasure was banned. However, some Italian winegrowers are allowed to offer Fragolino as a cuvée. The Fragolino is blended with wine or grape juice that is close to taste and low in alcohol. Unlike the more common Vitis vinifera species used in winemaking, the Isabella grape (Vitis labrusca) is native to North America and was introduced to Europe in the 1800s. It was popular because of its affordability, sweetness, and refreshing qualities with a delicate strawberry aftertaste. If you are looking for a light, delicate and fruity alternative to the usual sparkling wines, Splendia Fragolino is the one. Pretty pink with intense wild strawberry aromas and flavors, this sweet bubbly is simply creamy and seductive. A perfect summer wine, it was light, not too sweet, and as you would expect, tasted of strawberries. The wine isn’t actually made with any strawberries, but entirely from grapes – and that seems to be the problem (more on that later).